Ban on unsolicited credit card cheques welcomed

Thursday, November 19th 2009

Measures to ban the practice of sending unsolicited credit card cheques to consumers have been welcomed.

Yesterday's (November 18th) Queen's Speech brought the announcement of the new Financial Services bill, which includes the ban alongside action on money education and the enabling of group actions by Britons against financial institutions.

Peter Vicary-Smith, chief executive of Which?, said: "Banning unsolicited credit card cheques is a welcome if overdue move, but we want to see further measures such as a ban in unsolicited increases to credit limits."

The Queen's Speech also proposed bills to require energy firms to provide greater financial support to low-income customers and examine differences in pay between workers of different genders in companies with more than 250 employees.

Meanwhile, the Personal Care at Home Bill guarantees the provision of free personal care for those with conditions such as dementia.

However, the Housing Bill - which is in the government's draft legislation programme and sets new house-building targets - was not included in the Queen's Speech.